Ohio Chamber Charts an Ambitious Economic Agenda for Ohio's Next Administration |
|
|---|
|
 |
With Ohio voters set to elect a new governor in 2026 and a new General Assembly taking office in 2027, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce has released an important policy document for the coming election cycle. The 2026 Blueprint for Ohio's Economic Future is more than a collection of policy recommendations. It is a comprehensive governing agenda that challenges the state's next leaders to build on Ohio's recent economic success while preparing for intensifying competition for jobs, investment, talent, and innovation. The Chamber notes that Ohio has made progress since releasing its first Blueprint in 2022. During that time, the state climbed from 15th to 5th in CNBC's Top States for Business rankings and secured historic investments in semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, life sciences, cloud computing, and other high-growth industries. Rather than viewing those achievements as a destination, however, the report presents them as a foundation for the next phase of Ohio's economic growth. At the center of the Blueprint is an ambitious goal: achieving sustained annual GDP growth of at least 3 percent while positioning Ohio as one of the nation's premier states for business investment, innovation, and job creation. The report contends that accomplishing that objective will require a coordinated strategy led by the governor and General Assembly rather than a series of isolated policy initiatives. The report outlines more than 100 recommendations around six strategic priorities: - Education & Workforce – Modernize education and workforce development while strengthening Ohio's talent pipeline.
- Infrastructure – Expand investments in transportation, energy, water systems, broadband, and other infrastructure needed to support growth.
- Taxes & Costs – Improve Ohio's tax competitiveness and address business costs that influence investment decisions.
- Business Friendliness – Streamline permitting, modernize regulations, and improve government efficiency.
- Innovation & Collaboration – Strengthen research commercialization, entrepreneurship, and partnerships among business, higher education, and government.
- Sense of Place – Expand housing, improve quality of life, and create communities that attract and retain talent.
Many of these recommendations align with issues already dominating policy discussions at the Statehouse, including workforce shortages, housing affordability, energy generation, data center development, artificial intelligence, water infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing. Perhaps the Blueprint's most important message is that Ohio's economic development strategy is entering a new chapter. The report argues that future success will depend less on recruiting the next marquee project and more on ensuring the state has the workforce, infrastructure, energy capacity, housing, and regulatory environment necessary to support long-term growth. In that respect, the Blueprint is intended not as a wish list, but as a practical roadmap for sustaining Ohio's competitiveness over the next decade. The Chamber has made clear that it intends to use the Blueprint as the foundation for its legislative priorities and hopes gubernatorial candidates and legislative leaders will incorporate its recommendations into their own policy agendas. |
|
|---|
|
 Every election cycle produces campaign platforms, but few are backed by the depth of research and business consensus reflected in the Ohio Chamber's Blueprint. As candidates begin outlining their economic priorities, this report provides a ready-made framework for addressing Ohio's biggest long-term challenges. |
|
|---|
|
Data Center Debate Becomes Increasingly Data-Driven |
|
|---|
|
Although the General Assembly adjourned for the summer without passing comprehensive data center legislation—and opponents have confirmed they will not pursue a statewide ballot initiative this year—the policy debate continues to evolve. Recent reports from the Ohio Chamber Research Foundation, Ohio Business Roundtable, and the national Data Center Coalition provide new data addressing many of the issues debated this spring. The Ohio Chamber's Water Readiness and Data Centers study concludes that Ohio has sufficient water resources to support anticipated data center growth through at least 2030. The report finds the greater challenge is not water availability, but ensuring utilities, wastewater systems, electric infrastructure, and local planning keep pace with development. The Ohio Business Roundtable's Fact vs. Fiction report similarly challenges several common criticisms of the industry. It notes that Ohio data center employment has grown more than 70% since 2016, recently approved electric tariffs require large facilities to bear most infrastructure costs, facilities become major property taxpayers despite tax incentives, and school districts receive significant new revenue without increased enrollment. Meanwhile, the national Data Center Coalition has expanded its public education efforts, reporting that Ohio's data center industry supports 24,120 direct jobs, 106,000 total jobs, contributes $14.1 billion to Ohio's GDP, and generates $1.1 billion in state and local tax revenue. |
|
|---|
|
 With legislation temporarily on hold, the conversation is shifting from rhetoric to research. These reports are likely to shape future discussions on tax policy, infrastructure planning, utility regulation, and local zoning when lawmakers return later this year. |
|
|---|
|
| Advocus Poll Finds Strong Support for Nuclear Energy |
|
|---|
|
A new poll conducted by Advocus Partners finds Americans increasingly support expanding nuclear energy to meet growing electricity demand. The survey of 1,000 registered voters found 58% support expanding nuclear power, while only 22% oppose it. Nearly half (48%) also support federal financial guarantees to accelerate deployment of next-generation nuclear reactors. The survey also found that support for AI infrastructure remains limited, but notes support increases substantially after respondents learn about the industry's economic benefits, investments in local infrastructure, and role in maintaining U.S. technological competitiveness. |
|
|---|
|
 As electricity demand accelerates, voters appear ready to embrace new sources of reliable, carbon-free generation. The challenge for policymakers and developers will be building similar public confidence in the infrastructure needed to support the AI economy. |
|
|---|
|
JobsOhio Reports Another Strong Year |
|
|---|
|
JobsOhio's 2025 Annual Report highlights another year of strong economic development performance. Ohio ranked No. 3 nationally in total business projects, No. 3 in capital investment, and No. 5 in new jobs, remaining the only state to consistently rank among the nation's top five in both total and per-capita projects since 2013. JobsOhio and its regional partners reported 377 completed projects, creating more than 19,300 new jobs, retaining 54,900 jobs, generating $1.61 billion in annual payroll, and driving $19.3 billion in capital investment. |
|
|---|
|
 Ohio continues to attract major investment across advanced manufacturing, aerospace, defense, semiconductors, energy, and data centers. As competition among states intensifies, JobsOhio's public-private partnership remains one of Ohio's strongest competitive advantages.
|
|
|---|
|
Access our curated list of federal grants, including the USDA Fertilizer Investment & Expansion for Long-term Domestic Supply (FIELDS) Program (up to $100 million) and the FEMA Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program (up to $5 million). Review the list of ongoing grant opportunities, click the link below. |
|
|---|
|
| |
|
